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Monday, July 20, 2009

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed forward Evander Kane, the team’s first round (fourth overall) choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, to a multiple-year contract, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kane, 17, recorded 96 points (48 goals, 48 assists) in 61 games for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League last season. He led the WHL in power play goals (23), ranked second in goals and game-winning goals (10), and placed fourth in points. He led the Giants in goals, ranked second in points, and finished third in assists and plus/minus rating (plus-51). He added 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 17 playoff games while leading his team to the WHL Western Conference Finals. He was named to the 2009 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and also competed in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

The 6-1, 185-pound left wing won a Gold Medal with Team Canada during the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, recording six points (two goals, four assists) in six games. The World Junior Championships marked his second international Gold Medal in six months after winning the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in Slovakia as a member of Canada’s Under-18 team.

Kane has posted 138 points (73 goals, 65 assists) and a plus-73 rating in 134 career WHL games with Vancouver. He has added 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 32 post-season games with the Giants. A native of Vancouver, Kane made his WHL debut in 2006-07, scoring one goal in eight regular-season games and appearing in five post-game contests en route to capturing the Memorial Cup Championship.(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)